"Hi, Mrs Roswell. Don't worry, I'm not here about yesterday, I just wanted to ask if you've heard anything from my parents recently?" 

"Oh! Oh, of course, I- Why don't you come in?" She opens the door a little wider, after looking back inside the house for a moment. 

"Thank you," she follows her inside. "They stopped answering my calls a few months ago," she explains, "And there's no recent sign of them at home. I've been very worried." 

She leads Erin through to the sitting room. "Please sit down. Would you like a drink?"

She sits. "I'd love something. Tea, maybe?"

"Of course!" She's not gone long, and returns with an actual tea set. "We just have to let that steep for a minute. Now, your parents, you said they fell out of contact a few months ago?"

"Yes, they usually call once a month. I haven't heard from them in three, and as I said there's no sign of them in the house." 

The woman pours the tea. "Here." 

She takes a sip of her own, and sighs. "Ted was very proud when they created the lab here. Said it would bring some life back to the town."

She takes a sip and makes a quiet pleased sound as she listens attentively. 

"About three months ago, as you said, we lost contact at the lab. And then we were told that we must stay away for our own good, like I knew where the place was, and that the staff were being moved elsewhere." She takes another sip of tea, and rubs her temples. "Some of the scientists came back, and I think-"

"Meredith." The mayor appears in the doorway, face stony. "I think that's enough. We don't need to start conspiracy theories."

Damn, and it seemed like she was getting somewhere, too. Still, it's a lot more than she knew before.

"Mayor Roswell!" She greets, "It's good to see you looking better." 

The mayor's face remains stony, and impassable. "Yes, and thank you, for your concern." 

"Will you take tea with us, darling?" Meredith asks, sounding hopefully. 

"No. I'll be in the study. Keep an eye on the time." And Ted walks out, rubbing his back.

She continues to be concerned, if for different reasons now. It's strange, she remembers them being a very happy couple...

Smile, "Well, leaving that topic aside for now, how has the town been since I left? I've been all over the country in the past few years, I must have missed all sorts of milestones and celebrations."

Meredith seems relieved by the subject change, and happily talks about last years centennial celebration of the town.

Erin is happy to see her relaxing a bit. She listens and then contributes a few light anecdotes of her own. It's a very pleasant conversation.

And then late afternoon hits, and tension returns to Meredith's body. "Oh, goodness, how time flies. It has been so lovely to see you again, Erin, and I do wish you luck with your work at the hospital." 

It's a clear dismissal, paired with her frantic looks to the hallway, presumably where the study is.

Well, that's very suspicious. 

She doesn't want to overstay her welcome, though, or ruin any of the goodwill she's earned, so she stands to leave. "Thank you, for the well-wishes, and the tea and conversation," Erin tells her as she goes, "You're welcome to drop by my house any time," she makes sure to add, as well. 

Meredith's genuine smile returns at that. "Thank you, Erin. I'll be sure to call on you. Take care of yourself, too." 

The door shuts behind Erin.

Hm. Well, hopefully she'll be alright, whatever is going on in that house. Erin doesn't like leaving her to whatever was making her so afraid, but there isn't much she can reasonably do without more information and likely Meredith's cooperation, as well. 

She turns back towards her home, going over what she'd learned at the beginning of the visit. Some of the scientists came back, she'd said. Hopefully some of them will be among those colleagues her parents had introduced her to when she was younger.

Perhaps another reason to go to the bar. Catching up with an old friend, and finding out who else has come back. 

Indeed, and it's getting to be about the time they'd set to meet, too. She slips into something a little nicer, and then soon enough she's slipping onto a stool at the bar in question. She's a little early, but not by much. While she waits for Cati to arrive, she takes a look around, checking for anyone she recognizes. 

It seems to be mostly military personnel, and even out of uniform you can tell that that's what they are. They stand straight backed, even while talking to their friends. Like they have to always be on guard. 

Not too much longer later, Cati arrives. She dressed quite nicely, though baggy and formless, and looks like she's waiting for someone to tell her what to do. 

She's not been out in a while, clearly.

(Their state of readiness is really quite disconcerting. She watches the crowd seemingly idly while she waits.)

"Cati!" Erin calls once she spots her, "Over here!" 

Cati looks relieved as she squeezes through people. She slips into the seat next to Erin. 

"Christ, this place can fit a lot of very buff women in it."